Pakistani officials say Taliban militants in Afghanistan have taken hostage around 30 Pakistani children who crossed the border by mistake.
They said the incident took place on September 1 after the group of boys, aged between 12 and 18, visited an area of Pakistan's Bajaur tribal region for celebrations marking the Muslim Eid holiday when they crossed into the Afghan province of Kunnar and were abducted.
It was not clear whether the militants were of Afghan origin or Pakistani Taliban.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik reportedly has contacted the Afghan government and requested it to take measures to secure the release of the children.
compiled from agency reports